Bible Discussion Thread

Ez.20:44-49 "All flesh shall see it" (2 of 2)

And ye shall know that I am theLordwhen I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the LordGod.

45Moreover the word of theLordcame unto me, saying,

46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

'There is an emphasis on the 'south' in the Hebrew brought out by the use of different Hebrew words (the Negeb also indicated south of the hills of Judah), and we can see Ezekiel turning towards the south from Babylon in the sight of his listeners. Today the Negeb is waterless desert except where it is watered by man made irrigation, but it is clear that in Ezekiel's time the land somewhat more fruitful and sufficiently watered to produce a 'forest' of trees. It was from the south that Egypt was expected to come with its useless aid.

But 'the south' in the first two cases may have reference simply to the southern kingdom, to Jerusalem(Ez.21:2a) and the land of Israel (21:2-3) .(Ack:commentary/Peterpett)

Here we haven alternate redering:

"And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of theLord; Thus saith the LordGod; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. (v.46)

This fire shall not be quenched meaning that we need look beyond the circumstances of Israel and to the end times. v.49 gives us the clue.

" Set thy face toward the south" Ezekiel positioned ('As the Lord have spoken it) which is about judgment. "And all flesh shall see that I theLordhave kindled it: it shall not be quenched."

49Then said I, Ah LordGod! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?